Venice Beach
Venice Beach
4
About
This lively beach close to Los Angeles draws crowds to its busy boardwalk, where street performers and colorful characters make an appearance. Surfers gather around the Venice Breakwater while bodybuilders flock to the open-air gym on Muscle Beach.
Take your time to explore the countless cafes and souvenir shops that line the waterfront or bike along the 4-mile boardwalk that runs from the southern end of Venice Beach to the neighboring Santa Monica Beach. There are lifeguards on duty, so families with children can have a safe and enjoyable time in the water.
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Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
Neighbourhood: Venice
Venice has always danced to its own beat as the epicenter of bohemian culture in Los Angeles. Along the boardwalk there are street performers and local craftsmen selling their wares. Original paintings, souvenirs, and jewelry are on display. Crowds of visitors marvel at the sites while weightlifting enthusiasts pump iron in plain view, and skateboarders do their tricks around the skate park. All of it happens under the warm California sun with sprawling views of sand and sea. Heading east, the main drags of Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Main Street are lined with boutique shops, some major retail stores, art galleries and restaurants. Here the ambiance is more relaxed and upscale than the frenetic boardwalk area. Venice is a mostly walkable (and certainly bikeable) neighborhood, full of areas to explore.
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
929 within 5 kms
Attractions
227 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- J.P. Knapp1 contributionFun PlaceWe went to the Venice boardwalk on a nice Saturday afternoon in December. It’s very festive. It’s rather shabby, but that’s part of the charm. It’s fun to watch the skateboarders. We had a good lunch in a sit-down restaurant but it’s more a place for walk-up food stands. We never felt even the slightest bit unsafe. Parking was easy but I imagine it could be tough in summer. Saw only two homeless people. The canals are worth a look, too.Visited December 2022Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 December 2022
- northernkPhoenix, Arizona12,659 contributionsVenice Beach is .. well Venice beachTo expect anything other than to see something you maybe haven't seen before is not to come to Venice Beach, have been here before but there is a live cam from here .. great to watch a sunset and during the last three years spent hours working form home with this cam on. The cam has sound and have seen and heard some interesting things but love the views and was so excited to finally come back here to be at this very location. and it's still fun, love the stores, and always find something unique going on here. Fun for a short stay then go to some other beach lol.Visited January 2023Written 5 January 2023
- SydneySaint Louis, Missouri211 contributionsOvercrowded Beach, Sketchy NeighborhoodWe walked to Venice Beach from the Santa Monica Pier and when we arrived, it's like the entire atmosphere changed. The beach was super crowded. Less families. More panhandlers. We left the beach to see the Venice Canals, and the whole area feels off. Sketchy. Lots of run down alleys where you can't see what's going on until you get there. We didn't see anyone else walking around - in fact, all the people from the Beach vanished. It was like a ghost town but with large black vans parked every quarter mile. I'm glad we saw the Beach and the Canals once but I would have felt more comfortable if we drove through instead. We ended up getting an Uber back to the Pier because we didn't want to keep walking through Venice.Visited July 2022Written 7 March 2023
- DurbanguySan Francisco, California65 contributionsColorful and funky areaThe several times I have visited LA I had never been to Venice Beach. Funky area but interesting to me as you see all walks of life parading along this area. Skate park was captivating as talented people were doing their skateboard tricks. There are homeless people around but they didn't bother anyone. I went in the day time with my teen daughter. Some arts and crafts and the usual tourist stuff but with an edge.Visited April 2023Written 18 April 2023
- drb4735Lancaster County, Pennsylvania25 contributionsFunky beach of unknown trajectoryStrand is downtrodden funky with pop up art (and junk) vendors, skateboarders, families, homeless, and enough 2nd hand ganja smoke to fail your next urine test. Options to eat were limited at Santa Monica end but the Ale House was good for lite fare (great staff). Mix of new and dated hotels and despite having a dedicated bike-blade-board route on the beach, kamikaze electric scooter bombing runs abound on the strand (Ocean Front Walk). Plenty of prison grade bathroom stalls and outside showers along the beach.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 April 2023
- Jackie SPleasant Prairie, Wisconsin90 contributionsYou need to do this on a bikeFantastic bike ride from Santa Monica Pier to Venice beach. I am 60 and my daughter is 25. We rode for hours on rented bikes on a beautiful pristine paved bike trail along the ocean. Heaven! Blue skies and deep sandy beaches. Lots of souvenir shops and eateries. We stopped to watch surfers and then skate boarders. Blue skies and pure fun all day. Toured the Abbot Kinney area where we stopped for smoothies. Rode back to Santa Monica and returned the bikes (rentals are very affordable) and had a nice meal on the pier. Fantastic day.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 April 2023
- yeahiknow1234Auckland, New Zealand22 contributionsLovely if you can ignore the trash and homeless people smoking methI really enjoyed skating from Venice to Santa Monica on the ocean walk, that part was excellent. But venice beach itself is kind of disgusting. There is trash and homeless people smoking meth everywhere. I definitely would not recommend visiting as a family, if you have kids go to Santa Monica instead. The pier has security so there is less overt drug use and you can actually use the public bathroom without disturbing someone who lives inside the stall.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 May 2023
- WikumjBromley, United Kingdom279 contributionsInteresting LA experienceInteresting LA experience for tourists though far from essential. Cheaper stores and food outlets compared to Santa Monica Pier, and more of a funky vibe and atmosphere. Interesting to see the painted murals on the walls in the area. Has a slightly gritty edge to it which may not appeal to everyone.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 May 2023
- SpotTVMomAtlanta, Georgia336 contributionsTeens had a great time !We visited on the 4th of July. The beach was clean, some Characters as you would expect. That’s the charm. No one was scary or aggressive. We loved the weight lifters and there was a bodybuilder contest that was fun. Teens loved their run On the beach path. We also walked the canals which where beautiful. Great dining options and fun street of shops to see. My teens loved the Venice shops a few blocks away.Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten 16 July 2023
- Ingrid HLos Angeles, California8 contributionsVenice beach pleasantIt was very pleasant! All that hype about how dangerous it is was way over the top! I know the City did clean up the encampments and there are still homeless, they are trying to make a dollar by selling stuff or by creating sand scapes. Loved the skatepark, people are friendly and no body bothers you…Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 9 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
10,894 reviews
Excellent
4,022
Very good
3,489
Average
1,818
Poor
870
Terrible
696
Chris
16 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Family
Nice walk along the sea front to Santa Monica pier , very crowed near muscle beach and full of crappy tourist shops.
Loads of homeless and smack heads about but didn’t bother anyone.
It’s One to tick off the list but won’t return
Loads of homeless and smack heads about but didn’t bother anyone.
It’s One to tick off the list but won’t return
Written 15 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise D
5 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Family
Sidewalk cafe on Venice boardwalk is fantastic, great food & service. Lovely walkway to Santa Monica. Muscle beach on sand area nice to see.
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr Javed Rasheed
Kurnool, India2,685 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Visited this place on May 16th 2023 as it was close to the hotel Shutters on the beach in LA in USA 🇺🇸. Today's Venice, though, is more famous for quirky happenings on its iconic beachfront boardwalk and pier, where mimes, jugglers, musicians, and street performers of all kinds inhabit an ever-changing and unforgettable bohemian subculture. I found it to be quite beach as an ardent and a travel enthusiast,beaches always fascinate me and happened to visit this place in LA before dusk.
Dr. Javed Rasheed
Dr. Javed Rasheed
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cruiser52305938160
3 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Solo
Shocked at what a dump this place is and how expensive it is. Why would you come here? I thought where I live is going down hill. I am looking forward to going home.
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Osamu H
Higashiizu-cho, Japan2 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
My wife and I came here to unwind from life and had a wonderful time. I'll come back later.
Having raised three children and now having three grandchildren, I was able to spend many happy days with such a wonderful family. I still have to work hard with my wife to watch our grandson grow up. Aiming for an even better family
Having raised three children and now having three grandchildren, I was able to spend many happy days with such a wonderful family. I still have to work hard with my wife to watch our grandson grow up. Aiming for an even better family
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John T
Jodhpur, India233 contributions
Nov. 2022 • Solo
Could be nice but the lower elements of society rule. Loud and obnoxious and thinking they deserve to be catered to. A cattle prod would be effective.
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jetsetjaney
scotland59 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
The tour brought us here and even the guide told us they wanted to drop it from the tour but people keep wanting to go so they had to leave it in.
The beach it’s self is fine , a beach is a beach!
The boardwalk is just a little hippy dippy for me with hash shops , tattoo places and lots of tourist rubbish with some Interesting things written on t-shirts.
There is some cool graffiti and altho I didn’t see any but there is meant to be some banksy art here too which is cool.
It was interesting to see but the hour we spend here was enough
The beach it’s self is fine , a beach is a beach!
The boardwalk is just a little hippy dippy for me with hash shops , tattoo places and lots of tourist rubbish with some Interesting things written on t-shirts.
There is some cool graffiti and altho I didn’t see any but there is meant to be some banksy art here too which is cool.
It was interesting to see but the hour we spend here was enough
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ingrid H
Los Angeles, CA8 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Family
It was very pleasant! All that hype about how dangerous it is was way over the top! I know the City did clean up the encampments and there are still homeless, they are trying to make a dollar by selling stuff or by creating sand scapes.
Loved the skatepark, people are friendly and no body bothers you…
Loved the skatepark, people are friendly and no body bothers you…
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarsuff
London, UK75 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Family
Dirty and full of the literal dregs of society. The surrounding streets are full of rubbish and faeces. Don't bother visiting here. It's scummy, trashy and over hyped. Homeless people lying in the sand, drug dealers walking around, wierdos everywhere. The sand is full of rubbish.
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chicki7
Calgary, Canada101 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Couples
Terrible , dirty and disgusting place.
I would never go here but the tour brought us in. Was very disappointing. Dirty and would not eat here if I was paid! Bathrooms looked horrendous and we didn’t use them. Homeless and questionable looking people loitering everywhere. Don’t recommend this to anyone
I would never go here but the tour brought us in. Was very disappointing. Dirty and would not eat here if I was paid! Bathrooms looked horrendous and we didn’t use them. Homeless and questionable looking people loitering everywhere. Don’t recommend this to anyone
Written 2 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you show me a picture of were are the restroom at please.
Gary M
Sydney, Australia255 contributions
Sorry I didn't take any holiday snaps of shitters, I suggest you try Google earth.
Kat S
Adelaide, Australia7 contributions
I would love to know what the skating here is like? My 18’ year old son is planning a trip with some mates in August 2020 for a week , purely to enjoy the skate parks. Any tips or advice from a concerned mum would be awesome 🙌
Simon J
Melbourne, Australia43 contributions
Skating be fine as plenty around but yep lots of homeless.... skate all day b fine tho & in summer many more people so normally ok...
sharvahuja
Edison, NJ
I am planning to visit LA in the beggining of april .. i would like to know if that is a good time to visit LA and specially hit the beach !
Nel A
Canton of Geneva, Switzerland72 contributions
LA is always nice to go. Sunny and always good weather. For swearing maybe a bit cold but it all depends on you. Lots to see and enjoy the ocean
julien b
1 contribution
Bonjour. Vous êtes vous faits agresser ou avez vous été témoins d'une agression? Je souhaiterais louer un appartement sur venice beach mais je souhaiterais aussi pouvoir sortir le soir...
Merci d'avance pour votre réponse.
Julien
William B
Pontoise, France292 contributions
Bonjour, la journée tout va bien les magasins sont ouverts et il y a beaucoup de monde par contre vers 18H00, les commerces ferment et les touristes désertent la plage. A 20H00, les SDF, les dealers et rappeurs noirs arrivent et foutent le bordel partout. Les toxicos agressent les blancs et les blessent ou plus, comme à Paris dans les quartiers Est !!!!!!!
892veronica
Cagliari, Italy11 contributions
Salve, vorrei sapere come poter arrivare a Venice Beach da Hollywood Boulevard. Io allogerò al Mama Shelter.
Grazie
daniela B
Prato, Italy803 contributions
Non so noi abbiamo noleggiato auto
yen70072
Marrero, LA59 contributions
Can anyone tell me around how long it takes to walk the boardwalk and see the sights at Venice Beach? My family plans on visiting both Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier and I'm wondering how much time it takes to do both.
968mmac
Southbury, CT76 contributions
You can rent bikes in Venice Beach and ride them to Santa Monica Pier. Depends on how much time you want to spend. If pure with small kids you may want to spend more time in Santa Monica Pier. But you can do both in half a day
Josh
Schaumburg, IL17 contributions
Where is my dog allowed to go around Venice Beach and Santa Monica? Are there no beach areas for the dogs to be on? I spoke to someone who said "anything goes" at Venice Beach but from what I'm reading dogs are only allowed on the walkways and grass areas.
L ..
Denver, CO262 contributions
As far as I read from signs, no you are not allowed to have dogs on the beach.
Frederic T
Carqueiranne, France1 contribution
bonjour est il possible de louer un vélo à une borne à santa Monica et le déposer à une autre borne à Venise Beach
merci pour votre repone
Christian H.
Pamplona, Spain5 contributions
In EEUU everything it's posible!!!!
There are a lot of places to rent a bicycle. But the distances between Santa Mónica to Venice beach if you,re walking it'll be only 2 hours more or leas...
Krystal G
Swift Current, Canada3 contributions
Looking for a parking lot to park an rv while visiting Venice beach boardwalk.
teddy214
San Luis Obispo County, CA48 contributions
Yes, there’s RV parking. The residents don’t like it but it’s not illegal. I’m not sure where you’re coming from but the main intersections are Lincoln Blvd & Washington Blvd. Drive West on Washington Blvd pass Abbot-Kinney, next light Oxford. From there on your left you’ll see RV’s parked. Most of them don’t move as they use it as their residency. PLEASE READ THE PARKING SIGNS. you may have luck parking on the right. Best time to get parking early morning 7 am. The traffic is HEAVY from morning to night. I don’t think Venice Pier has a RV parking but parking is expensive. Also watch out for those Bird Scooters, they’re everywhere and most riders don’t care. I grew up in MDR & my mom still lives there. Traffic is horrible & it’s the same in Santa Monica. I hope this helps.
Hi! I’m wondering if you can cycle from Malibu to Venice? And is it possible to rent a bike in one direction? I don’t want to back track to drop it off.
June D
Los Angeles, CA30 contributions
This is not a good idea. Once you reach the end of Santa Monica and are on Pacific Coast Highway is when the problems are very obvious. There is no special lane for bike riders. This is a tight, narrow, winding road with bumper to bumper traffic in both directions, not safe for the bike rider and of great concern to the motorists trying to avoid hitting you. There are occasional rocks that fall from the mountain side which drop dramatically from Santa Monica to PCH. These hillsides have always been unstable and have not changed with the passage of time, I should know having lived in this area since 1978 and have traveled this highway many many times, still do.
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Claim your listingVenice Beach: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Venice Beach
- Hotels near Venice Beach:
- (0.06 km) Charming Getaway: Comfortable Suite with Balcony
- (0.14 km) Hotel Erwin
- (0.15 km) Samesun Venice Beach
- (0.12 km) Modern Venice Beach Luxury Home with Rooftop & Spa
- (0.34 km) Venice V Hotel
- Restaurants near Venice Beach:
- (0.17 km) Tocaya - Venice
- (0.12 km) High Rooftop Lounge
- (0.17 km) Menotti's Coffee Stop
- (0.14 km) Belles Beach House
- (0.16 km) Townhouse
- Attractions near Venice Beach:
- (0.16 km) Venice Skatepark
- (0.10 km) Venice Beach Boardwalk
- (0.08 km) Venice Bike Tours
- (0.08 km) Muscle Beach Venice
- (0.16 km) Mojo Maps Expedition Co.